Aug 08, 2022 Governance & Priorities Committee

[00:00:06]

AND I WILL CALL OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 8TH, 2022 TO ORDER.

AND I'LL NOTE THAT COUNCILLOR KONGE AND COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA ARE JOINING US ONLINE OR ON THE PHONE, AND THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE

[1. Opening Statement:]

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT'S BEEN IN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIFE'S DENE FIRST NATION.

WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

[2. Approval of the agenda.]

NO, NOTHING ELSE TO ADD.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS IN THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.

[3. Disclosure of pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof.]

NEXT, WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO BRING FORWARD AN UPDATED DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN TO BE

[4. A memorandum regarding whether to direct Administration to bring forward an updated development incentive program to facilitate development in the downtown to be funded by the Downtown Improvement Reserve.]

MS. BASSI-KELLETT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

WITH PLEASURE. YES.

TODAY, ADMINISTRATION IS VERY PLEASED TO BRING FORWARD THE NEXT STEPS ON THE USE OF OUR DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT RESERVE AND THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE PROGRAM THAT WE WANT TO UNDERTAKE IN ORDER TO ENHANCE DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY IN OUR DOWNTOWN.

AS WE'VE BEEN EMERGING FROM COVID INTO OUR NEW NORMAL, WE KNOW VERY WELL THAT SOME BUSINESSES HAVE STRUGGLED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, AND ALSO THE NATURE OF RETAIL IS CHANGING.

DEVELOPING A SUITE OF INCENTIVES, INCLUDING THE REVAMP OF THE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE BYLAW EXCUSE ME, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY DIRECTED BY COUNCIL INTO OUR CURRENT CONTEXT, IS GOING TO ENSURE RELEVANCE FOR AN OPTIMAL UPTAKE BY BUSINESSES FOR OUR INCENTIVES THAT WE OFFER.

WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT WITH A STRING OF DEVELOPMENT COMMENCING ACROSS YELLOWKNIFE, PARTICULARLY IN OUR DOWNTOWN, INCLUDING WORK WE'VE HEARD ABOUT RECENTLY, THAT'S BEEN MADE PUBLIC IN THE MEDIA AROUND THE BLANCA BUILDING, NORTHERN LIGHTS, NOVA HOTEL, ET CETERA.

WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS A PARTNER IN SUPPORTING REVITALIZATION AND BUSINESSES TO SUCCEED.

WE WILL BE RETURNING WITH RECOMMENDED ACTIONS ON THE USE OF THE REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE RESERVE, WHICH IS THE COMPLEMENTARY FUND THAT'S OFTEN PUT TOGETHER WITH THIS ONE.

WE'LL HAVE SOME IDEAS ON THAT COMING FORWARD SHORTLY TO COMPLEMENT THIS WORK.

NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INVITE MS. THISTLE AND MS. WHITE TO COME FORWARD TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PLANS AFOOT THAT COMPLEMENT WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THE MEMO.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL BEGIN TO AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE RECEIVED DIRECTION PREVIOUSLY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE UPDATE OF THE INCENTIVE BYLAW.

AND AS WE TOOK A LOOK AT NOT JUST THE BYLAW BUT OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN RUNNING RECENTLY, WE DECIDED THAT THERE'S A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO BRING ALL OF THIS FORWARD TOGETHER AS ONE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO TODAY WE'RE SEEKING DIRECTION NOT ONLY TO UPDATE THAT INCENTIVE BYLAW, BUT TO CREATE A WHOLE NEW PROGRAM FOR THE DOWNTOWN AND SPECIFICALLY TO BE FUNDED BY THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT RESERVE.

SO THIS HOPEFULLY WILL INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES AS WELL AS BUSINESS INCENTIVES IN ADDITION TO DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR UTILIZING THE RESERVE, SUPPORTING THIS NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.

THE CITY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE.

MS. CHARLES MRS. WHITE, IF WE COULD JUST PAUSE FOR A MOMENT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GETTING.

COUNCILOR MUFANDAEDZA ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION? OKAY. SO.

NO. COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING AND COUNCILLOR KONGE NOT MUCH.

TINKER AROUND WITH THE OLD DIALS.

TESTING. TESTING.

ONE, TWO, THREE. TESTING, TESTING.

I CAN HEAR THAT.

PERFECT. THANK YOU.

I CAN HEAR THAT, TOO.

AWESOME. TESTING.

TESTING. MIKE, CAN YOU HEAR US? OKAY? PERFECT.

THIS WAY. IF YOU CONTINUE, BECAUSE I'M A VERY QUIET SPEAKER.

SO AS DISCUSSED, THE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE BYLAW, IT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND WE FEEL THAT MODERNIZING IT AND BRINGING IT TO TODAY'S REALITY WILL REALLY BE OF BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

WE FEEL THAT THE CITY ALSO HAS A PART TO PLAY IN THIS WITH SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, CONNECTIVITY.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.

SO BRINGING ALL OF THESE TOGETHER TO HELP SUPPORT SOME OF THOSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WE ALREADY KNOW ARE OCCURRING OR ARE IN THE PLANS TO OCCUR IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

[00:05:10]

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS FROM COUNCIL, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THESE OBJECTIVES ALSO ALIGN VERY NICELY WITH THAT THAT COUNCIL HAS PUT FORWARD.

SO THE MEMORANDUM TODAY IS REALLY ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT RESERVE.

AS WE ALL KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED SINCE 2002 AND IT'S BEEN USED FOR MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

IT GOES BACK TO BIKE RACKS AND MURALS, WAS ONE OF THE OLDER ONES AND MOST RECENTLY WAS THE $125,000 THAT COUNCIL DEDICATED TO RELOCATION OF THE VISITOR CENTER.

AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESERVE IS REALLY ABOUT BRINGING MORE ACTIVITY TO THE DOWNTOWN.

A KEY EXAMPLE OF THIS, AGAIN, IS THE VISITOR CENTER, WHERE WE'RE ANTICIPATING HAVING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS MOVE THROUGH THAT.

BIG COMMERCIAL LOCATION WILL GENERATE MORE BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF THOSE VISITORS WHO WANT TO SHOP AND HAVE COFFEE.

AND SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF INCREASED ACTIVITY IN THAT AREA, WHICH IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE MONEY THAT'S BEEN PUT IN BY THE CITY AND OUR OTHER FUNDERS. THEN, SORRY, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE OUR PATIO INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

COUNCIL APPROVED THAT IN 2017 AS A PILOT PROGRAM AND SO IT'S SUNSETTED IN 2022.

SO WHAT WE DID THERE IS WE USED SOME OF OUR OUTDOOR SPACE IMPROVEMENT MONEY THAT WAS PART OF OUR COVID FUNDING THAT COUNCIL HAD ALLOCATED, AND WE USE THAT TO ASSIST BUSINESSES THAT WANTED TO PROCEED WITH AN OUTDOOR PATIO.

HAVING SAID THAT, WE DID HAVE LESS APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR AS WELL.

WE'RE ALL AWARE WE SAW MANY NEW PATIOS OPEN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT WE DID SEE ONE OPEN AT THE HUNGRY WOLF.

SO THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS DO HAVE A DIRECT BENEFIT IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE.

AND WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD A MEMO IN SEPTEMBER ALSO TO UPDATE COUNCIL ON HOW THOSE FUNDS WERE USED AND WHAT PURPOSE THEY SERVED AND THE UPTAKE.

SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE IN DETAIL AT A FUTURE MEETING.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO USE FUNDING IN A FLEXIBLE WAY THAT HAD A DIRECT IMPACT ON BUSINESSES, SMALL, LOCAL BUSINESSES IN OUR DOWNTOWN CORE.

ANOTHER THING THAT COUNCIL HAS DEDICATED MONEY TO IS THE HOMELESSNESS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FROM THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT RESERVE.

AND THIS IS BECAUSE, AS WE'VE SEEN FROM DOCUMENTS AS FAR BACK AS 2017 IN OUR DOWNTOWN VISION, ONE OF THE KEY CONCERNS IS THE SOCIAL ISSUES IN THE DOWNTOWN.

SO ONE WAY THAT THIS RESERVE HAS BEEN USED TO AFFECT CHANGE IN THE DOWNTOWN, ADDRESSING DIRECT PROBLEMS OR ISSUES THAT WERE NOTED BY COUNCIL, LIKE I SAID, AS FAR BACK AS 2017, WAS FUNDING THE HOMELESSNESS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM THROUGH THIS RESERVE.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S BEEN USED FOR EVERYTHING FROM INCENTIVIZING PATIOS TO EMPLOYING STREET INVOLVED PEOPLE.

SO WHAT MISS WHITE AND I DID, IT ACTUALLY WAS QUITE TIME CONSUMING.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE MANY REPORTS AND STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

SO ONE THING WE WANT TO MAKE CLEAR FROM TODAY IS WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANY MORE STUDIES, WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE PAPERS.

WE WANT TO ACTUALLY TAKE SOME ACTION HERE.

SO WE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THESE BYLAWS, STUDIES AND PLANS, AND WE MADE OUR OWN LISTS AND WE MET NUMEROUS TIMES AND WE CROSS-REFERENCED EVERYTHING THAT SHOWED UP ON THOSE LISTS. SO ANYTHING THAT WAS DUPLICATED, WE PUT IN A ONE TABLE, AND THAT'S THE TABLE YOU'LL FIND ATTACHED TO THE MEMORANDUM TODAY.

AND THAT WAS BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE THIS RESERVE HIT AS MANY OBJECTIVES AND GOALS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND AND ACTUALLY PUT THOSE INTO PLAY.

SO WE HAVE EVERYONE HAS A HOME TEN YEAR PLAN IN HOMELESSNESS.

WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE DOWNTOWN THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE FUNDED FROM THIS? I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT TODAY.

BUT WHAT WE WANT IS TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF INCENTIVES THAT WE CAN USE TO ADDRESS THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN NOTED IN ALL OF THESE.

WE DON'T SEE HOMELESSNESS JUST SHOW UP IN THE TEN YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS.

WE SEE IT SHOW UP IN THE RETAIL REVITALIZATION STRATEGY.

WE SEE IT SHOW UP IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.

WE SEE IT SHOW UP EVERYWHERE.

BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING, NOT JUST A BUSINESS AND ITS CUSTOMERS.

IT'S WHY CUSTOMERS ARE COMING, WHY THEY MIGHT NOT BE COMING, WHY IT'S A GOOD LOCATION, WHY IT'S NOT A GOOD LOCATION.

[00:10:01]

SO THEN I WAS SORRY.

THE KEY THINGS WE HAD TO LOOK AT WAS HOW ARE WE GOING TO USE THESE RESERVE FUNDS? BECAUSE AS WE NOTED IN THE MEMO, THE YELLOWKNIFE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS NOTED AS WELL, WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO WITH THESE RESERVES? UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S TAKING US LONGER THAN WE CAN.

WE ANTICIPATE IT.

WE GOT OUR RETAIL REVITALIZATION STRATEGY ADOPTED IN LATE 2019.

MISS WHITE CAME.

THEY FINISHED IN.

WE ADOPTED A NEW ZONING BYLAW, WHICH WE'VE ALSO KNOWN IS A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBLE AND CAN ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT.

SO $877,000 SOUNDS LIKE A TON OF MONEY, BUT IT'S NOT ACTUALLY IF YOU WANT TO MAKE REAL CHANGE AND AND IT GETS ADDED TO, BUT AS WE SAW OVER COVID, IT DIDN'T GET ADDED TO AS MUCH AS WE HAD ANTICIPATED BECAUSE IT COMES FROM PARKING REVENUES.

AND DURING COVID, WE ALSO REDUCED OR MADE WAIVED PARKING FEES.

SO IT DIDN'T INCREASE AS MUCH AS WE WOULD HAVE PLANNED WAY BACK IN 2019.

WE ALSO DIDN'T SEE THE IMPENDING PANDEMIC COMING, WHICH AFFECTED US STAFF WISE, WORK WISE SHIFTED PRIORITIES, BUT IT ALSO AFFECTED OUR BUSINESSES AND IT WASN'T REALLY THE OPPORTUNE TIME TO CONNECT WITH THE CHAMBER TO SAY, HEY, WE WANT TO INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN, WANT TO CHAT WITH US WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP THEIR HEADS AFLOAT.

SO WE REALLY, FOR MANY REASONS, IT'S TAKEN LONGER THAN WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO GET HERE, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AND SO, YEAH, THE VERY FIRST THING YOU NEED TO LOOK AT IS WHAT DO WE WANT TO USE THESE FUNDS FOR? BECAUSE ONCE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO COME FORWARD WITH IN SEPTEMBER, ONCE THAT FUND IS GONE, IT'S GONE.

THAT ONE'S NOT OUT OF TWO.

SO IT'S REALLY KEY THAT WE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS NOW ABOUT HOW TO USE IT.

BUT EVEN THIS ONE, IT GETS OUT OF TWO, BUT ONLY A LITTLE BIT EVERY YEAR.

SO WE SPEND IT ALL AT ONE TIME.

IT NEEDS TO BE ON SOMETHING REALLY GREAT.

OR AS WE'RE SAYING, LET'S DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT HAS AN ARRAY OF INCENTIVES THAT CAN FUND ANYTHING FROM A PATIO, OUTDOOR PATIO TO MAYBE SOME KIND OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT WHEN YOU LOOK AT MUNICIPALITIES ARE CURRENTLY DOING.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT TORONTO DOES, BUT WE MAY BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY PIECES THAT THEY HAVE THAT WE CAN TRANSPLANT INTO THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE TALK ABOUT CREATING INCENTIVES THAT NEED, NEED.

SO MS. WHITE SAID THEY HAVE A DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM BYLAW.

IT DOESN'T GET ACCESSED VERY OFTEN.

SO THAT'S A KEY INDICATOR THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

EITHER THERE'S DIFFERENT NEEDS OR WE'RE NOT MEETING THE NEEDS THAT ARE THERE.

SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE KIND OF DISCONNECT IS, BECAUSE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN, WE'VE SEEN HUGE UPTAKE WAIVING BUSINESS LICENSE FEES, THE INDOOR INCENTIVE PROGRAM, YELLOWKNIFE BUSINESS SERVICES GRANT.

ALL THOSE ARE SEEING REALLY THEY'RE SUPER POPULAR.

SO KIND OF WHAT'S THAT DISCONNECT? WHAT DO WE NEED TO ESSENTIALLY? I CAN'T, I DON'T EVEN REALLY WANT TO SAY FIX BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT ANYTHING'S BROKEN, BUT IT'S LIKE IT'S REALLY OLD.

AND WE HAVE A NEW ZONING BY AND A NEW COMMUNITY PLAN.

WE'VE GOT A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.

SO LET'S CREATE INCENTIVES THAT MEET THE NEEDS THAT EXIST TODAY, NOT NEEDS THAT EXISTED TEN YEARS AGO.

SO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE OF THESE IN THE DOWNTOWN WITH THE RELOCATION OF THE VISITOR CENTER, ANTICIPATING THE OPENING OF THAT THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER.

AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT TO OFFER IN THE MEDIUM AND THE LONG TERM, BECAUSE, AS I SAID, THIS RESERVE IS 877,000, BUT THAT'S GROWN THAT WAY BECAUSE IT HASN'T REALLY BEEN USED.

AND IF WE DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT ACCESSES THOSE FUNDS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A DEPLETION, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT, BUT WE'D PREFER NOT TO SEE IT DOWN TO ZERO.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO IN THE MEDIUM TERM AND WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO IN THE LONG TERM? AND THEN MS. WHITE COULD PROBABLY TALK ABOUT VACANT LAND.

SURE. THANK YOU. AND ACTUALLY, JUST TO FINISH ON THE MEDIUM AND LONG TERM COMMITMENT, ONE THING THAT WE HOPE TO BRING FORWARD THIS FALL WILL BE A RESTATEMENT OF THAT COMMITMENT FOR FUNDING ONCE WE IDENTIFY PROGRAM OPTIONS.

SO WE CAN SAY ON A YEARLY BASIS A FUNDING OF X WOULD BE REQUIRED BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS JUST A 25% OF PARKING METERS, WHICH ONE YEAR COULD BE VERY LOW, THE NEXT YEAR COULD BE VERY HIGH. SO LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE CONSISTENT ON A YEARLY BASIS.

SO WE DO SO WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THAT LONG TERM COMMITMENT.

AND ANOTHER PIECE JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON BRIEFLY IS MAKING IT EASY NOT ONLY FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS THE MONEY, BUT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER IT.

AND I THINK AS GREAT AS THE INCENTIVE BYLAW IS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AS WITH MOST THINGS, PLANNING, THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCES, INTRICACIES AND

[00:15:06]

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING TO DO.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE SALE OF VACANT LAND THAT IS CITY OWNED, THERE ARE SOME PROPERTIES IN THE DOWNTOWN.

WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE AND HAVE.

SITTING FOR A WHILE. SO WE'LL BE LOOKING IN SEPTEMBER, BRINGING BACK A REPORT ON HOW WE WOULD RECOMMEND MAKING SOME OF THAT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO LOCAL INVESTMENT.

AND WE WANTED TO OUTLINE JUST A NUMBER OF KEY OPPORTUNITIES HERE.

WE'VE ALREADY TOUCHED ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN PROVIDE SOME SORT OF INCENTIVE WHEN NEW HOUSING IS BEING BUILT.

WE ALWAYS GET EXCITED, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN.

BUT HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT IT IS AFFORDABLE AND SO AFFORDABLE IS TO THAT 30 TO 60 PERCENTILE OF INCOME EARNERS WITHIN THE CITY.

SO SOMETIMES THERE'S AGREEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE AGAIN, GOING BACK TO PLANNING, BUT PUTTING IT IN PLACE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME SO THAT IT'S NOT KIND OF A ONE STOP AND THEN THE NEXT TENANT, THE RENT GETS INCREASED.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT MECHANISMS THERE.

AGAIN, I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO REDUCING VACANT LAND IN THE DOWNTOWN, BUT INCREASED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

SO WHEN I SPEAK ABOUT THE CITY TAKING AN INTEREST AND INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE WE HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AS WELL IN THE DOWNTOWN, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.

SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WANT TO LOOK AT.

AND THERE AS WELL, LOOKING AT SUSTAINABILITY OPTIONS IN THE WAY THAT WE AS THE MUNICIPALITY BUILD AS WELL AS THE WAY WE'RE LOOKING FOR THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE TO BUILD.

AND I'LL ASK KERRY TO SPEAK MAYBE TO THE TOURISM.

AS WE SEE A RETURN TO PREVIOUS TOURISM LEVELS.

I'VE ALREADY SAID IT, BUT RELOCATION OF THE VISITOR CENTER IS GOING TO DRAW A LOT OF VISITORS INTO THE DOWNTOWN.

AND SO ARE THERE WAYS WE CAN INCENTIVIZE MORE TOURISM BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN? THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

INCREASED TAX SPACE, VACANT LAND MEANS NO TAXES OR LITTLE TAXES.

BIG DEVELOPMENT MEANS QUITE A BIT MORE TAX MONEY, WHICH WE ALL KNOW, THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.

THAT'S HOW WE GENERATE FUNDS, ESSENTIALLY, IS TAXES AND TRANSFERS FROM OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

SO INCREASING OUR TAX BASE IS A KEY PRIORITY FOR THE CITY.

AND THEN, YEAH, SUSTAINABILITY EVEN.

IT COULD BE THINGS LIKE ARE THERE INCENTIVES TO MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE? I DON'T KNOW TODAY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS IS LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING DONE, WHAT THE BEST PRACTICES ARE, WHAT OVERLAPS WITH OUR COUNCIL'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, BECAUSE SUSTAINABILITY HAS BEEN A KEY PRIORITY.

TOURISM, DEVELOPMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO HOW DO WE, THROUGH INCENTIVES, ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT AT THE SAME TIME AS MEETING COUNCIL'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES? AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK WITH A PROGRAM THAT WILL RECOMMEND THAT HOPEFULLY GETS ACCESS AND IS EASY FOR US TO ADMINISTER AND ADDRESSES COUNCIL'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND THE MILLION REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.

SO I GUESS THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT SLIDE NEXT STEPS.

WE'VE ALREADY STARTED AS A TEAM.

WE'VE GOT MEETINGS SET UP ALREADY FOR SEPTEMBER TO PROCEED AFTER THIS TO DO THAT COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.

WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT WE'LL BE DONE THAT BY JANUARY 2023.

WE'LL GO OUT AND CONSULT WITH COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, WELL, WE BOTH SAID IF IT'S NOT BEING ACCESSED, THEN IT'S NOT REALLY WORTH IT.

SO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

SO WE DO THAT ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND MARCH, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK IN MAY WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ACTION ITEMS FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE.

THAT'S THE TIMELINE THAT WE'VE PROPOSED, AND WE THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE REASONABLE.

AND AGAIN, IF THERE'S AS WE GO THROUGH THAT COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, IF WE NEED TO ADJUST, WE WILL.

BUT THIS IS KIND OF A REASONABLE EXPECTATION FOR BOTH MY STAFF AND KERRY'S STAFF TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THIS.

YOU KNOW, CAVEAT BEING, IF THERE'S NOT ANOTHER PANDEMIC, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM FROM HERE. OR IF COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PRESENTATION.

WE'RE HAPPY TO SIT AND WAIT FOR ADDITIONAL SOUNDS GOOD.

OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.

COUNCILLOR MORGAN? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

I KNOW THIS IS ONE OF OUR MAIN COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE'VE CONTINUALLY

[00:20:09]

BUT MY FIRST QUESTION IS, SO IN OUR MEMO, WE HAVE THE TABLE THAT SUMMARIZES THE VARIOUS RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FROM PREVIOUS STUDIES.

AND I LIKE THAT THEY'RE GROUPED INTO THEMES.

WHAT'S NOT CLEAR FROM THIS TABLE IS WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN DONE AND WHAT HASN'T OR WHAT HAS BEEN TRIED OR OR WHAT HASN'T EVEN BEEN TRIED OR CONSIDERED.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN ANALYZING WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A SORT OF ONE TABLE SOMEWHERE THAT EXISTS THAT YOU COULD SEND US, THAT WE COULD ALSO VISUALLY SORT OF IN THAT IT LOOKS LIKE MS. WHITE DOES HAVE A TABLE THAT WOULD BE SUPER HELPFUL TO SEE.

JUST GET A SENSE OF HOW MANY OF THOSE WE'VE WE'VE TRIED SO FAR AND HOW MANY ARE STILL SORT OF NEW IDEAS TO PURSUE IN THE FUTURE.

ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION.

THERE WAS MENTION THAT THE INDOOR SPACES IMPROVEMENT GRANT WAS REALLY POPULAR.

CAN YOU REMIND ME WHAT THAT WAS? BECAUSE I CANNOT RECALL.

MS. BASSI-KELLETT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JUST IN TERMS OF ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN, I WILL REFER TO THE TABLE THAT'S ON PAGE SEVEN OF 44, WHICH OUTLINES THE WORK THAT THAT THE ACTIONS THAT THE CITY HAS TAKEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND ELSEWHERE AROUND THE REVITALIZATION.

IN TERMS OF INDOOR GRANTS.

ABSOLUTELY VERY POPULAR.

I'LL ASK MS. THISTLE TO SPEAK TO WHAT'S ENTAILED IN THAT.

AND I WILL JUST ADD ABOUT THE TABLE, WE DON'T HAVE A TABLE THAT WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FROM THEA.

WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FROM THE RETAIL REVITALIZATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, THE UNIVERSITY FEASIBILITY STUDY, AND UPDATE THE ACTION IN EACH ONE OF THOSE. AND THAT'S NOT EVEN ALL OF THEM.

IT'S ALMOST EVERYTHING ON THAT LIST.

SO WHAT WE DID WAS JUST MAKE A TABLE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN EACH OF THOSE AND SEE WHERE THEY OVERLAP.

TO GET OUR KEY THEMES TO SAY THESE ARE POTENTIAL THINGS WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT COULD BE FUNDED FROM THE RESERVE.

IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE STARTLING TO SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL WE HAVE BEEN IN MAKING PROGRESS AND A LOT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

POLYTECHNIC WE ENTERED INTO THE MOU WITH A POSSIBLE LOCATION.

THE RELOCATION OF THE VISITOR CENTER WAS RECOMMENDED AND DONE.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY WAS UPDATED.

A NUMBER OF THOSE IMPLEMENTATIONS PLANNED IMPLEMENTATION PLANS TALK ABOUT UPDATING AND APPROVAL OF THE ZONING BYLAW DONE.

SO WE DEFINITELY COULD DO THAT, BUT WE'D HAVE TO TAKE EACH ONE OF THOSE PLANS BECAUSE EACH ONE OF THOSE PLANS HAD A NUMBER OF OBJECTIVES OR RECOMMENDED ACTION.

SO WE COULD DO THAT.

WE DIDN'T. WE JUST WANTED TO SEE WHERE THEY OVERLAPPED.

SO THAT SPECIFIC KIND OF TABLE DOESN'T EXIST.

BUT WE COULD IF IT'S COUNCIL'S WISHES WITH RESPECT TO THE INDOOR SPACE GRANT, INDOOR SPACE IMPROVEMENT GRANT.

WHEN WE WERE ALLOTTED MONEY FOR THROUGH THE COVID FUNDING, WE CAME UP WITH VARIOUS PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR AND ONE OF THEM WAS THE INDOOR SPACE IMPROVEMENT GRANT, AND THAT WAS A GRANT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO BUSINESSES TO ADAPT TO BEING OPEN IN COVID AND WHETHER IT WAS THEY HAD TO CREATE A DELIVERY SERVICE OR ONLINE SERVICE OR INCREASE CLEANING OR MASKS OR INSTALL PLEXIGLASS, OR THERE WAS A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT THAT GRANT COULD HAVE BEEN USED.

AND AS I ALLUDED TO, THAT MEMO WILL COME FORWARD EARLY SEPTEMBER.

THAT GIVES COUNCIL A REALLY GOOD LOOK AT THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFERED AND HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT TO DATE AND HOW MANY BUSINESSES TOOK PART IN IT.

BECAUSE WE DO THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THAT COUNCIL ALSO GETS TO HEAR THE GOOD STORY ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS WERE.

OKAY. THANKS FOR THAT. I WAS AWARE THAT WE WERE OFFERING SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES DURING COVID.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS CALLED INDOOR SPACES.

BUT THAT'S MY BIGGER QUESTION HERE.

SO THE MEMO, AM I WAY TOO LOUD? I FEEL LIKE I'M ECHOING BACK HERE.

THE PRESIDENT.

SO THE MEMO, THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FOCUSED ON INCENTIVES TO BUSINESSES OR PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF WHAT ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING TO WORK ON HERE.

RIGHT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF THE STUDIES RELATING TO THE DOWNTOWN WEREN'T SOLELY FOCUSED ON INCENTIVES PER SE, BUT OTHER ASPECTS OF REVITALIZING THE DOWNTOWN IS THE INTENTION TO ALLOCATE THE ENTIRETY OF THE.

RESERVE. IT'S THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT RESERVE SPECIFICALLY TO INCENTIVES.

AND WOULD THAT MEAN THAT MOST OF THE KINDS OF PROJECTS THAT WERE FUNDED IN THE PAST WOULDN'T QUALIFY?

[00:25:06]

I WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT THE INTENTION FOR THAT RESERVE IS TODAY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

BUT AS MS. WHITE SAID, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THIS.

THE FLEXIBILITY THAT WE HAD WITH THE COVID FUNDING ALLOWED US TO BE REALLY RESPONSIVE AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING AS AND WHEN NEEDED AND PROVIDE PROGRAMS THAT WERE REALLY EFFECTIVE AND MET THE NEEDS OF THE BUSINESS AT THE TIME.

THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT RESERVE, ALTHOUGH WE CALL IT THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT RESERVE.

OFTEN IT STARTED AS THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT RESERVE, AND THE PURPOSE WAS ABOUT IMPROVING THE DOWNTOWN, AND THAT'S HOW THESE OTHER PROGRAMS FIT IN.

IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE ABOUT IMPROVING THE ATMOSPHERE, THE VIABILITY, THE VIBRANCY OF THE DOWNTOWN IN ITS ENTIRETY.

SO I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD LIMIT IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT THOSE KINDS OF PROGRAMS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THIS.

AND THAT'S ALL I WOULD LIKE.

LET US LOOK AT THE SUITE OF INCENTIVES PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE FUNDED TO IMPROVE THE DOWNTOWN OVERALL.

AND IF I COULD JUST ADD SPECIFICALLY, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE HOW DO WE CREATE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ENVIRONMENT, THOSE ARE LONGER TERM. SO FOR US TO WANT TO SPEND IT ALL IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS WOULD ACTUALLY, IN MY OPINION, BE IRRESPONSIBLE.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A PROGRAM THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP SOMETHING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU KNOW THAT THAT SUPPORT IS THERE INTO THE FUTURE, WHETHER THAT'S TEN YEARS, 20 YEARS.

SO AGAIN, I AGREE WITH KERRY, THAT'S NOT THE INTENT.

BUT WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME MORE DETAILS ON HOW THIS COULD ROLL OUT IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS SO THAT IT'S NOT ALL TOWARDS ONE THING.

AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES WHAT CAN THE CITY DO WITH SOME OF THAT FUNDING TO UPGRADE OR ENHANCE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO WHETHER IT'S BIKE RACKS OR SOME OTHER MECHANISM TO KIND OF BRING THAT CONNECTIVITY TOGETHER, THAT'S REALLY ALSO WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT.

SO MULTIPRONGED I WOULD SAY.

THANK YOU. OK.

AND SO IF THE INTENTION OF WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING ADMINISTRATION DO RIGHT NOW IS A LITTLE BIT BROADER THAN SO RIGHT NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ASKING THE ADMINISTRATION TO BRING FORWARD A COMPREHENSIVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

AND I'M ASSUMING INCENTIVE MEANS INCENTIVES FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPERS OR BUSINESSES IF OUR INTENTION IS A BIT BROADER THAN THAT AS PART OF THAT COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.

MAYBE THE WORDING SHOULD REFLECT THAT.

OR AM I MISUNDERSTANDING THE WORDING IN THE RECOMMENDATION? FROM MY TAKE IT, IT WOULDN'T LIMIT IT LIKE DEVELOPMENT IS THE YWCA IS CONSTRUCTION SIDE DOOR.

LIKE YOU CAN BE AN NGO OR A PRIVATE DEVELOPER? BUT EVEN THE CITY ITSELF DOING ITS OWN DEVELOPMENTS, WHETHER IT'S ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS OR BIKE RACKS OR STREETSCAPES OR.

7.2, IS THAT FACILITATES DEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN.

SO IF WE HAVE GOOD STREETS LIKE THE MIDWAY BUMP OUTS THAT WE HAVE ON SOME OF THOSE STREETS, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT IN THE EVALUATION IS DEEMED AN INCREDIBLE VALUE.

AND THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE.

THE DOWNTOWN OR THE STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM IS THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK TO FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN, AND ALL THE FUNDING SHOULD GO TO THAT OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

MS. BASSI-KELLETT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH. JUST TO REAFFIRM, IT'S NOT MEANT SOLELY FOR BUSINESS OR BUSINESS OWNERS.

IT'S MEANT FOR RENTERS, IT'S MEANT FOR NGOS, IT'S MEANT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS INCENTIVES.

SO IS THIS ALMOST ANYTHING TO ADD? OH, I WAS GOING TO ADD WAS WHEN MUNICIPALITIES ARE SEEN AS INVESTING IN SPECIFIC AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT ALONE IS AN INCENTIVE FOR OTHERS TO PICK UP. PERFECT EXAMPLE, THE CITY IS INVESTING IN THAT LOCATION FOR THE TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER.

SO SAME THING CAN BE SAID FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL.

THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS AN INCENTIVE.

THANK YOU. AND AT THIS POINT, WE WEREN'T LIMITING THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PROGRAM TO SPECIFICALLY BUSINESS INCENTIVES. SO IT'S DEFINITELY NOT OUR INTENT TO, AT THIS POINT LIMIT IT TO MERELY THAT WE SEE THIS, LIKE I SAID, AS A DEVELOPMENT IMPROVEMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN. SO IMPROVEMENT CAPTURES MUCH MORE THAN JUST IF YOU BUILD THAT, YOU MIGHT GET FUNDING.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY NOT OUR INTENT TO PROCEED IN THAT MANNER.

I MEAN, I MIGHT SUGGEST IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL, BUT JUST WHEN IT SAYS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM, WE COULD SAY A COMPREHENSIVE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, AS I'VE HEARD TODAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT VARIOUS ASPECTS OF DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT THAT WOULD FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT.

[00:30:10]

I MEAN, THAT FOCUSES ON OLD TOWN FOR THE MOST PART.

BUT HOW DO YOU SEE THAT LINK TO THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION OR IMPROVEMENT? MS. BASSI-KELLETT? RESULT IN THE TABLE TO GO DOWN MORE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

CERTAINLY WE ARE LOOKING NOT JUST AT AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AROUND IMPROVING ACCESS AND INCENTIVIZING AND STIMULATING DEVELOPMENT, WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN INTEREST IN SOME OF PUBLIC WATERFRONT ACCESS.

SO WE DID INCLUDE THIS IN THE TABLE BECAUSE IT DOES DATE BACK.

THERE WERE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN 2010, SO WE FELT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION OVERALL.

I'LL ASK MS. THISTLE IF SHE'D LIKE TO SPEAK MORE TO THIS.

AND IT'S INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION FOR THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT RESERVE, IT SAYS, FOR DOWNTOWN IN THE OLD TOWN AREA.

SO IT'S INCLUDED FOR THAT REASON AS WELL.

OKAY. I MEAN, MY SENSE WOULD BE THAT, I MEAN, WHAT MOST OF US CONSIDER THE DOWNTOWN AND WHAT IS THE DOWNTOWN IN OUR ZONING PLAN IS ENOUGH OF A CHALLENGE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ALSO LUMPING IN LIKE ALSO, HOW DO WE IMPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO WATERFRONT AND OLD TOWN, WHICH IS ANOTHER VERY VALID AND IMPORTANT ISSUE.

BUT WITH THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE, I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULDN'T SPREAD OURSELVES OVERLY THIN AND JUST FOCUS ON DOING SOMETHING.

WELL, I MEAN, JUST OVERALL, MY FIRST REACTION READING THROUGH THIS MEMO WAS, OH NO, ANOTHER SORT OF COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OR ANOTHER LIKE WE DON'T NEED MORE RESEARCH INTO OPTIONS AND ACTIONS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE ADMINISTRATION IS AWARE THAT THE FOCUS DOESN'T NEED TO BE NECESSARILY ON RESEARCH PER SE, BUT JUST PULLING TOGETHER WHAT WE HAVE AND LOOKING FORWARD.

SO I WOULD SUPPORT THAT AND ENCOURAGE US TO YEAH.

INSTEAD OF ENDLESSLY RESEARCHING MORE AND MORE OPTIONS JUST TO FOCUS ON A FEW THINGS THAT WE THINK WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.

AND I THINK SOMETIMES TOO, WE WANT TO BE SO COMPREHENSIVE AND TRY TO DO SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ALL MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE OR MIGHT WORK, BUT THEY GET SPLINTERED INTO SMALLER AND SMALLER ACTIONS, AND SOMETIMES IT'S EFFECTIVE JUST TO FOCUS ON ONE OR TWO BIGGER ITEMS THAT WE THINK IF WE JUST FOCUSED OUR ENERGIES AND DID THAT REALLY, REALLY WELL, THEN THAT COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

SO THAT'S MY SENSE.

BUT I AM WILLING TO SUPPORT OR RECOMMEND THAT ADMINISTRATION GO BACK AND COME UP WITH PULL TOGETHER SOME SOME CONCRETE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD GET US MOVING FORWARD ON THIS. THANKS.

SO THANK YOU.

YEAH. AND I THINK IN THE REVIEW, THEY'LL ALSO HAVE TO COME FORWARD WITH PROBABLY AT LEAST THREE BYLAW UPDATES THE LAND ADMINISTRATION BYLAW.

THE FINANCIAL.

ADMINISTRATION BYLAW AND THE DOWNTOWN OR SORRY, THE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE BYLAW, SINCE ALL THREE OF THOSE BYLAWS ARE INTERCONNECTED, WHICH IS WHERE YOU GET LIKE YOU COULD BE ELIGIBLE IN OLD TOWN OR DOWNTOWN BASED ON.

SO THAT'S WHERE A BIT OF A PLAN JUST TO TO GROUP IT ALL TOGETHER TOO.

I APPRECIATE YOUR POINT.

AND I THINK NOBODY WANTS TO SEE MORE PLANS.

HOWEVER, IT'S JUST ACTUALLY LIKE COMPILING ALL THIS INTO ONE AND ACTUALLY BEING STRATEGIC AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE THE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM BYLAW FIRST OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

AND THIS IS HOW WE'LL SPEND THE MONEY.

COUNCILLOR PAYNE? THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS, REALLY.

I'M JUST JUST COMMENTS.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT INTO THIS.

AND I KNOW THAT IT DIDN'T COME OVERNIGHT AND YOU REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB.

AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR EVERYBODY DOWNTOWN.

YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESSES, THE GROUPS, THE PUBLIC LIKE THIS IS I THINK IT'S BEEN A WHILE COMING AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IT.

AND I 100% SUPPORT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO DO.

THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER? COUNCILLOR KONGE SAID THAT IT LOOKED GOOD AND HE WAS SUPPORTIVE.

FOR MYSELF, I YEAH, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE MEMO REGARDING HOW THE COVID FUNDING WAS USED AND WHICH PROGRAMS WE LIKE AND WHICH ONES,

[00:35:09]

COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA ALSO SAYS SHE'S IN SUPPORT.

SO THE ONLY THING IN REGARDS TO THE WORDING OF THE MOTION ITSELF IS BRINGING FORWARD RECOMMENDATIONS FUNDED FROM THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT RESERVE.

I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY LIMIT IT TO THAT.

IF WE NEED TO INCREASE A BUDGET OR SHIFT SOME FUNDING AROUND, I'D WANT TO WANT TO SEE THAT TOO.

AND I THINK THE ONE THAT GOES UNDER THE RADAR BUT IS AMENDING THE ZONING BY AMENDING DOING THE COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE ZONING BYLAW.

RECENTLY, WE ARE SEEING WHAT AN INCENTIVE IT IS BY MAKING OUR BY IMPROVING OUR ZONING BYLAW, WE ARE ACTUALLY ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BUILD AS OPPOSED TO SAYING, HEY, COME TO THE CITY, PAY A CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED REZONING FEE, COME TO COUNCIL.

WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW PEOPLE CAN BUILD AND WE'RE SEEING THAT THAT'S A BENEFIT.

AND THE OPEN PARKING AND THE CAR SHOW MODEL, WHICH IS ALSO ZONING BYLAW STUFF.

SO YES, PEOPLE WEREN'T USING OUR DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE BYLAW, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S REALLY PEANUTS WHEN YOU HAVE A MORTGAGE AND YOU ARE PAYING EVERY SINGLE DAY AND YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE CITY TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, A $5,000 GRANT ISN'T GOING TO INCENT DEVELOPMENT.

SO I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD UNDERESTIMATE THE STUFF OF THE ZONING BYLAW, BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND KIND OF THAT EVALUATION.

I ALWAYS LOVE PLUGGING OUR WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN THAT HAS THAT GRID THAT SHOWS HIGH IMPACT, HIGH COST OR LOW IMPACTS HIGH COST SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY CHART AND SEE THAT, YEAH, WE SHOULD BE PUTTING OUR EGGS INTO THIS BASKET OR THAT.

SO NO FURTHER COMMENTS ON THAT.

I DO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME OF THOSE MEMOS IN SEPTEMBER, BUT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PEOPLE CONTINUING TO PUT DEVELOPMENT PERMITS IN THANKS TO THOSE CHANGES IN THE ZONING BYLAW.

ANYTHING FURTHER? SEEING NONE.

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A MEMORANDUM REGARDING THE MINUTES OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR OCTOBER 21ST, 2021, FEBRUARY 3RD,

[5. A memorandum regarding the minutes of the Audit Committee meetings of October 21, 2021; February 3, 2022 and April 28, 2022.]

ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE. THAT'S JUST FOR INFORMATION.

SO DULY NOTED.

THE NEXT 1 TO 3 ITEMS ARE IN CAMERA.

[IN CAMERA]

ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING AND HEARING NONE, WE CAN GO IN CAMERA.

AND BUSINESS ARISING FROM IN CAMERA.

[9. Business arising from In Camera Session.]

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD ON HOMELESSNESS APPOINTMENT, WHICH WILL BE ZOE SHARE.

AND WE HAVE A MAYOR'S TASKFORCE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT APPOINTMENT, WHICH WILL BE DEVIN STRAKER.

WITH THAT, IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO MOVE OUT OF, OR SORRY TO ADJOURN, PERIOD.

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR MORGAN SECOND BY COUNCILLOR PAYNE.

ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE, WE CAN BE ADJOURN.

HAVE A GREAT DAY, EVERYBODY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.